>> marriage equality is part of america's future. we saw that in state after state in the last election. the supreme court will take up the issue, and i hope that they understand as most of us do that this is part of our future. marriage equality and the equal treatment of people who have made this decision is part of what america is all about. >> final point, senator durbin. susan rice. will she be the president's secretary of state nominee and could she get confirmed in the senate at this point? >> i can't say that because the president has not told me what his decision will be. there have been two excellent names mentioned, ambassador rice and my colleague, senator kerry. either one of them would have a tough job following the great job of hillary clinton, but they could both serve this country in an extraordinary way as secretary of state. >> you're saying that rice could get confirmed? >> i do believe so. i think at the end, some of the criticisms against her have been unwarranted. many have gone just too far. there is really a